Your Space Can Help You Get Down to Work. Here's How
Your Space Can Help You Get Down to Work. Here's How
Feed your creativity and reduce distractions with the right work surfaces, the right chair, and a good balance of sights and sounds
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Do you work best in the middle of a bustling scene or do you need
utter peace and quiet? Are you a minimalist or a stuff lover? Do you do
your best thinking while gazing out a window or would you rather be on
your feet, moving things around? Designing your home office with your
organizing and working style in mind will help create a personalized
space that suits you to a T.
See if one of these eight ideas for customizing your workspace does the trick for you.
See if one of these eight ideas for customizing your workspace does the trick for you.
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If you like to move around:
Give yourself several options of places to work within a space — a
traditional desk along one wall can hold your laptop, while a round
table in the center of the room is available to sit and read, make notes
or brainstorm. A standing-height desk is another great option if you like to move around, and it is healthier than sitting to boot.
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by 22 INTERIORS
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If you like to be surrounded by bustling activity:
Do you work best in cafes and other busy spaces? Then consider
designing a workspace you can share with your kids or housemates, or set
up shop in the kitchen where the action of everyday life can flow
around you. Be sure to make room for speakers, and turn on favorite
music or podcast while you work. You could even try listening to real
coffee shop sounds courtesy of Coffitivity, a free online site that provides ambient background noise while you work.
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by Caitlin Wilson
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If anything remotely office-y makes you squirm:
There is no rule that says you must outfit your home workspace with a
desk and desk chair. A dining table can be called into duty as a
spacious desk, and any comfortable upright chair can be used as a desk
chair, as long as you are not logging many hours at a time in it.
If you do choose a proper desk chair for ergonomic reasons, there are still many ways to bring more home into your home office — try a cushy rug, colorful wallpaper, a pretty table lamp and artful accessories. |
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by FORMA Design
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If you are a daydreamer: Rather
than fight the tendency to daydream, embrace it. Set up your desk in a
spot with a view — upstairs looking out a window (but far enough from
the window that glare is not an issue) could be ideal. Or, place your
desk facing out into a large room, so your eyes have somewhere to go
when you glance up from your work. In a tight spot, try hanging an
inspiration board, wallpaper, artwork or a mirror, and use plants to
create a sense of depth.
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by Sarah Greenman
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If you are a visual person:
For visually minded folks (myself included), keeping important
materials in view is a must. Try creating your own giant calendar using
chalk paint in different hues. Or craft a giant bulletin board where you
can pin to-do lists, calendar items and inspiration. Just be sure to
limit what you put up to the truly essential, and edit regularly — too much visual stimulation and it becomes hard to focus.
If you are easily distracted:
If the slightest noise or activity makes you lose your concentration,
you need to cultivate a private space. Try to wrangle your own room if
at all possible. If that can't be done, choose the quietest, least-used
room, and do what you can to protect your own corner.
The desk shown here, with its built-in screen reminiscent of a study carrel, is ideal for blocking out distractions while you work. You could also use a decorative folding screen or open-backed shelving to carve out workspace within a larger room.
The desk shown here, with its built-in screen reminiscent of a study carrel, is ideal for blocking out distractions while you work. You could also use a decorative folding screen or open-backed shelving to carve out workspace within a larger room.
by Jette Creative
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If you are a minimalist: A
few just-so pieces are all you need to outfit your workspace. Perhaps a
beautiful live-edge wood desk, like the one shown here, will help
inspire you to keep your space as clear as your minimalist heart
desires. Make the move toward a paperless office, and you can do away with nearly all files and drawers.
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If you like to surround yourself with stuff: The polar opposite of the minimalists in their paperless offices, stuff lovers feel more comfortable with a happy amount of clutter.
An L-shaped desk is great for those who like to toggle between
spread-out papers and working on a laptop, and plenty of file drawers
and cabinets provide storage for anything you might need close at hand.
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